"With all their backbreaking hard work, they felt it unfair to have a significant portion of the fruits of their labors confiscated by a government that neither represented their interests nor respected their freedom."
Ben Carson, M.D.
America The Beautiful
Zondervan Publishing 2012
p. 19
Escalating taxes without interests being represented and without respect for freedom. I find the similarities quite striking between Great Britain of old and the current U.S.
If we-the-people vote something down, it no longer means anything--unless it's pay-offs, manipulation, or adding the "no" to a bill that would be inhumane to vote anything but yes for.
Many young people (and others) have given up on voting. They determine either that their vote doesn't matter, or that all choices are equally bad. I understand. I, too, am tempted. But I fear that not voting invites a dictatorship; and that not necessarily overnight.
Ben Carson reminds us that some of Britain's subjects felt a fight for freedom was too risky. They preferred to hold on to their current benefits. I, too, am fearful and a low risk taker. But, I'm old enough now to have seen progressive losses.
So . . . we don't fight (protest, speak out, write editorials or our elected officials) for fear of losing benefits, freedoms, or friends. My dear citizen, unless we exhibit courage and strength, we could well lose them anyway.
Matthew 24:43 tells us that "if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into."
We are watching. Do we misunderstand? Are we going to "watch" them walk off with our money to support things against our better judgment and our morals? Will we watch them walk off with our freedom of religion? Our freedom of speech?
Do we think they're borrowing our freedom and will return it in the condition with which we gave it to them?
I don't think so.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Monday, June 23, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
GATHERING HOPE
Most conversations concerning our government leave me with an overwhelming sense of fear or a sick feeling of hopelessness. I can't hide in a closet or stuff my ears with silly putty (or worship music); but neither can I survive in a constant state of anger and fear.
I, who flunked every quiz on current events; who barely passed history and geography seem an unlikely candidate for books on politics. And I don't possess an ounce of activism. But that's where I am these days.
If these are the End Times, I don't feel right just sucumbing to the evil forces directing it. If, the Church and the nation can be restored to what they were meant to be, I want to, at least, be knowledgable enough to pray. Better yet, I hope to be a purveyer of truth and hope.
Let me begin with a recommended reading list:
America The Beautiful by Ben Carson, M.D.
One Nation by Ben Carson, M.D.
Christ Among Other gods by Erwin W. Lutzer
Where Was God? (Lutzer)
Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust The Bible (Lutzer)
Falling In Love With America Again by Jim DeMint
Times of Our Lives by Tom Brokaw
The Bible
I'm excited about what I'm learning. Hope you will come along.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
I, who flunked every quiz on current events; who barely passed history and geography seem an unlikely candidate for books on politics. And I don't possess an ounce of activism. But that's where I am these days.
If these are the End Times, I don't feel right just sucumbing to the evil forces directing it. If, the Church and the nation can be restored to what they were meant to be, I want to, at least, be knowledgable enough to pray. Better yet, I hope to be a purveyer of truth and hope.
Let me begin with a recommended reading list:
America The Beautiful by Ben Carson, M.D.
One Nation by Ben Carson, M.D.
Christ Among Other gods by Erwin W. Lutzer
Where Was God? (Lutzer)
Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust The Bible (Lutzer)
Falling In Love With America Again by Jim DeMint
Times of Our Lives by Tom Brokaw
The Bible
I'm excited about what I'm learning. Hope you will come along.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Thursday, May 22, 2014
SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL TOLERANCE
"Social tolerance means that we treat other people with respect regardless of their religious views. We believe all people are created in the image of God and therefore have dignity and worth."
"The third kind of tolerance is intellectual; that is, the question of whether one is willing to compromise his fundamental beliefs . . . Those who dialogue with other religions with the intention of integrating such beliefs . . . "
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishing 1994
p. 197
A man or woman is of immeasureable worth, no matter what they believe! But what each person believes bears eternal consequences.
Lutzer warns, rather emphatically, that Christian tolerance has limits--particularly at the point where tolerance begins changing the landscape of God's Word.
We can't mix a little Christianity with a little karma, and a little astrology. What God's Word forbids, we cannot add without sinning--and without deceiving others.
Two Scriptures come to mind: "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth. Purified seven times." Psalm 12: 6 NKJV
God's Word is not a haphazard word. It is tried and proven. Lutzer wrote another book on the trustworthiness of God's Word. It holds up under scrutiny.
"Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor." Ecclesiastes 10: 1 NKJV
Little flies--little follies become the ruin of something precious.
This has been a pretty heavy couple weeks in my blog; not where I intended to go and frankly, not where I wanted to go. But I feel it's a time and place that God has asked me to take a stand.
EverGrowing--not always willingly,
Lonnie
"The third kind of tolerance is intellectual; that is, the question of whether one is willing to compromise his fundamental beliefs . . . Those who dialogue with other religions with the intention of integrating such beliefs . . . "
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishing 1994
p. 197
A man or woman is of immeasureable worth, no matter what they believe! But what each person believes bears eternal consequences.
Lutzer warns, rather emphatically, that Christian tolerance has limits--particularly at the point where tolerance begins changing the landscape of God's Word.
We can't mix a little Christianity with a little karma, and a little astrology. What God's Word forbids, we cannot add without sinning--and without deceiving others.
Two Scriptures come to mind: "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth. Purified seven times." Psalm 12: 6 NKJV
God's Word is not a haphazard word. It is tried and proven. Lutzer wrote another book on the trustworthiness of God's Word. It holds up under scrutiny.
"Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor." Ecclesiastes 10: 1 NKJV
Little flies--little follies become the ruin of something precious.
This has been a pretty heavy couple weeks in my blog; not where I intended to go and frankly, not where I wanted to go. But I feel it's a time and place that God has asked me to take a stand.
EverGrowing--not always willingly,
Lonnie
Monday, May 19, 2014
LEGAL TOLERANCE
"As Christians we must fight for legal tolerance; that is, the freedom for individuals to believe as they wish. No one can be coerced to believe in Christ; no one should be rejected because he belongs to another religion."
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 197
Lutzer refers to three kinds of tolerance, as explained by Harold Netland in Dissonant Voices: Legal, Social, and Intellectual.
America was founded on the freedom of religion; freedom to worship according to our own consciences. That doesn't mean freedom just for Christians. I admit, that's hard for me to swallow. And I think one reason might be because that freedom isn't necessarily reciprocal.
"The religions of the Far East," writes Lutzer, "often give an aura of tolerance that is particularly directed toward Western audiences. However, those who have lived in(those) countries . . . tell stories of repression, persecution, and ostracism . . . " p. 196 I see those attitudes coming to the United States. But--reciprocal or not, everyone deserves the freedom to make their own choice. And like Lutzer writes, they can't be "coerced" to believe Christ. Nor is that what we desire. The rich life we experience with Christ is because of our own "heart" decision.
I think another reason I struggle with freedom-for-all is two-fold: My own conviction that accepting Jesus Christ's death and resurrection is the only way to heaven; my conviction, also, that there are only two possible destinations, and the other option is equally "eternal." I want everyone to know the truth/Truth and to go to heaven.
The other fold is concern; my own uncertainty of where God-honoring solitude, silence, and meditation become too influenced by Eastern practices of meditation. And the possibility of the Body of Christ being deceived.
"You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the decendents of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs." Isaiah 2:6 NIV
Psalms and Joshua tell us to meditate on God's Word/Law, on His unfailing love, on His mighty deeds, on His promises. I'm, frankly, unsure about meditating on a waterfall, eagle, or one particular word. But that's me. I've yet to work all this out. And, within the subject of this blog, I must let others work it out for themselves, as well.
How do you practice freedom-for-all? Do you incorporate meditation into your relationship with Jesus? What does it look like?
EverGrowing--Sometimes Rambling,
Lonnie
PS: Next time Social and Intellectual Tolerance to conclude my walk with Lutzer through "Christ Among Other gods."
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 197
Lutzer refers to three kinds of tolerance, as explained by Harold Netland in Dissonant Voices: Legal, Social, and Intellectual.
America was founded on the freedom of religion; freedom to worship according to our own consciences. That doesn't mean freedom just for Christians. I admit, that's hard for me to swallow. And I think one reason might be because that freedom isn't necessarily reciprocal.
"The religions of the Far East," writes Lutzer, "often give an aura of tolerance that is particularly directed toward Western audiences. However, those who have lived in(those) countries . . . tell stories of repression, persecution, and ostracism . . . " p. 196 I see those attitudes coming to the United States. But--reciprocal or not, everyone deserves the freedom to make their own choice. And like Lutzer writes, they can't be "coerced" to believe Christ. Nor is that what we desire. The rich life we experience with Christ is because of our own "heart" decision.
I think another reason I struggle with freedom-for-all is two-fold: My own conviction that accepting Jesus Christ's death and resurrection is the only way to heaven; my conviction, also, that there are only two possible destinations, and the other option is equally "eternal." I want everyone to know the truth/Truth and to go to heaven.
The other fold is concern; my own uncertainty of where God-honoring solitude, silence, and meditation become too influenced by Eastern practices of meditation. And the possibility of the Body of Christ being deceived.
"You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the decendents of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs." Isaiah 2:6 NIV
Psalms and Joshua tell us to meditate on God's Word/Law, on His unfailing love, on His mighty deeds, on His promises. I'm, frankly, unsure about meditating on a waterfall, eagle, or one particular word. But that's me. I've yet to work all this out. And, within the subject of this blog, I must let others work it out for themselves, as well.
How do you practice freedom-for-all? Do you incorporate meditation into your relationship with Jesus? What does it look like?
EverGrowing--Sometimes Rambling,
Lonnie
PS: Next time Social and Intellectual Tolerance to conclude my walk with Lutzer through "Christ Among Other gods."
Thursday, May 15, 2014
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND DOCTRINAL HAIR-SPLITTING?
"How can we be active witnesses for Christ in an era of unprecedented tolerance, an era in which converting someone else to your religious views is labeled bigotry and predjudice? If tolerance is indeed a national icon, how can we witness without the stigma of self-righteousness and a penchant for doctrinal hair-splitting?"
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 195-6
I'm going to pull a mean one, here. I sat with this question through twelve chapters. Not unlike a novel, I hoped upon hope that I would find an answer(s) at the end. Can I ask "you" to sit with this question for a day or two? Have you struggled with it before? "I" feel like I face it every day. Concern for the lost--how do I share Jesus without turning people off? -- Should I "care" if I turn people off? Don't they at least need an "opportunity" to accept or reject the truth. Their eternity is at stake.
When I read Scripture, I like to exhaust "Word on Word" resources, if you will: cross-references, concordance, multiple readings. Once, I feel like I have an idea of what the passage means, I'll check with a commentary or two. I think that might be good to do with this subject. Without outside resources, how would you answer Lutzer's questions?
Pondering and Growing,
Lonnie
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 195-6
I'm going to pull a mean one, here. I sat with this question through twelve chapters. Not unlike a novel, I hoped upon hope that I would find an answer(s) at the end. Can I ask "you" to sit with this question for a day or two? Have you struggled with it before? "I" feel like I face it every day. Concern for the lost--how do I share Jesus without turning people off? -- Should I "care" if I turn people off? Don't they at least need an "opportunity" to accept or reject the truth. Their eternity is at stake.
When I read Scripture, I like to exhaust "Word on Word" resources, if you will: cross-references, concordance, multiple readings. Once, I feel like I have an idea of what the passage means, I'll check with a commentary or two. I think that might be good to do with this subject. Without outside resources, how would you answer Lutzer's questions?
Pondering and Growing,
Lonnie
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
A "PASTOR" SAID "THAT?!"
"Years ago I was sitting next to a popular woman pastor at a banquet. I asked her, "'Do you believe Christ is the only way to God?'
"She replied, 'Of course! Why do you ask?'
"'Do you believe that all the religions of the world are equally valid?'
"Again the reply, 'Of course!'
"When I asked her how this could be reconciled with the view that Christ was the only way to God, she refused to answer. Undaunted, I persisted until she leaned over and whispered in my ear, 'When I speak about Christ, I'm not talking about Jesus of Nazareth!.'"
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p.115
Seriously, who'd have thought!?
Lutzer knew of this woman and her beliefs; that's why he pushed a bit in this conversation. But how many of us would have thought we were talking to another Christian? And frankly, what disturbs me is that she leaned over and "whispered." In other words, she was well aware that her words were deceptive. That while she said one thing, she meant quite another.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God . . . " 1 John 4: 1-3
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12 NIV
(all emphasis mine)
Thank you, Erwin Lutzer, for allowing us to eavesdrop on your conversation; for showing us the need to "test the spirits" and showing us how to do so, according to God's Word.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
"She replied, 'Of course! Why do you ask?'
"'Do you believe that all the religions of the world are equally valid?'
"Again the reply, 'Of course!'
"When I asked her how this could be reconciled with the view that Christ was the only way to God, she refused to answer. Undaunted, I persisted until she leaned over and whispered in my ear, 'When I speak about Christ, I'm not talking about Jesus of Nazareth!.'"
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p.115
Seriously, who'd have thought!?
Lutzer knew of this woman and her beliefs; that's why he pushed a bit in this conversation. But how many of us would have thought we were talking to another Christian? And frankly, what disturbs me is that she leaned over and "whispered." In other words, she was well aware that her words were deceptive. That while she said one thing, she meant quite another.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God . . . " 1 John 4: 1-3
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12 NIV
(all emphasis mine)
Thank you, Erwin Lutzer, for allowing us to eavesdrop on your conversation; for showing us the need to "test the spirits" and showing us how to do so, according to God's Word.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Monday, May 12, 2014
ALL RELIGIONS EQUALLY TRUE?
"If all the religions of the world are equally true, logic requires that they all are equally false: The conflicting doctrines would cancel one another!
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 49-50
Logically, Lutzer explains, all religions of the world may be false. But logically, they cannot all be true.
I beg you to think this through. Christians believe in one God. Hindus believe in thousands. Many religions believe Jesus was a great man; a great prophet. He is all that and more. He is God! "When the Parliament of the World's Religions issued a Global Ethic, it did not even use the word God because some Buddists would have been offended." (Lutzer/p.48)
We are not talking baptism by sprinkling or immersion, here. We are not talking about tongues or not tongues. We are not discussing whether Saturday or Sunday is the appropriate Sabbath; or what constitutes dishonoring that Sabbath. We are talking about God's first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me."
In the name of tolerance and diversity . . . maybe in the name of Minnesota Nice, I feel "required" to accept everyone's religion. I'm required to appreciate their culture, their beliefs. We have much to learn from one another and all religions, after all, have similar results--peace, love of mankind . . . and all the more so when agree.
I can appreciate. I can learn. I can love; and I do. Oh, my goodness, I encounter incredibly special people every day!
I cannot agree. Scriptures forbid that I do. I, at this point, have to choose --to please man or to please God. Because I have grown to love my Creator, my companion, and my Savior; and because this God holds eternity in His Hands, I choose to please Him.
By His Strength,
Lonnie
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christ Among Other gods
Moody Publishers 1994
p. 49-50
Logically, Lutzer explains, all religions of the world may be false. But logically, they cannot all be true.
I beg you to think this through. Christians believe in one God. Hindus believe in thousands. Many religions believe Jesus was a great man; a great prophet. He is all that and more. He is God! "When the Parliament of the World's Religions issued a Global Ethic, it did not even use the word God because some Buddists would have been offended." (Lutzer/p.48)
We are not talking baptism by sprinkling or immersion, here. We are not talking about tongues or not tongues. We are not discussing whether Saturday or Sunday is the appropriate Sabbath; or what constitutes dishonoring that Sabbath. We are talking about God's first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me."
In the name of tolerance and diversity . . . maybe in the name of Minnesota Nice, I feel "required" to accept everyone's religion. I'm required to appreciate their culture, their beliefs. We have much to learn from one another and all religions, after all, have similar results--peace, love of mankind . . . and all the more so when agree.
I can appreciate. I can learn. I can love; and I do. Oh, my goodness, I encounter incredibly special people every day!
I cannot agree. Scriptures forbid that I do. I, at this point, have to choose --to please man or to please God. Because I have grown to love my Creator, my companion, and my Savior; and because this God holds eternity in His Hands, I choose to please Him.
By His Strength,
Lonnie
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